A new world record price for a camera was reached on Saturday with 2.16 million euros for a unit of the German brand Leica, dating from 1923. The sale, organized by the Galerie Westlicht, held in Vienna.
Only 25 prototypes of the pre-series were manufactured by Leica. Photo credits: LEONHARD FOEGER / REUTERS
No teletrack payday loans offer customers extreme speed in granting, approving and remitting cash advances to cater for any kind of unforeseen financial crisis.
Candidates with strong personalities, verbal jousting, a dose of suspense, … presidential election, the highlight of French political life, provides a golden opportunity for brands to stand out for their creativity. For some of them, it is even the opportunity to make themselves known. Among them, the Paris Chocolate brand, created last year, did speak of her with boxes of chocolates bearing the image of candidates. Popilz society, which wants to start selling humorous figurines inspired by celebrities, moved, for his part, since its April 23 first characters in the image of Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande. MarionDem, young designer who launched last December the lingerie brand Panty Me, launched panties printed with the colors of the candidates. Best known and oldest brand Reunion sorry! commercialized a reversible shirt if we hesitate to support the UMP candidate or PS free instant credit score.
In these operations, profitability is not often visit. "We know that this is not a shirt to wear every day. We especially want to build brand awareness, "said Peter Marten, founder of the brand sorry! that focuses on products related to humorous news. Even at the risk a fine for infringement of image rights, as in 2008. At Popilz also, "the goal is not to make profits but to come forward and test the market," says Bastien Rochard, manager of the company. "The presidential election is the best time to create awareness around a brand. Citizens and the media only talk about it for a month. This is an opportunity to talk with humor. "
The figurine "Zarkface", inspired by Nicolas Sarkozy and sold by Popilz. DR
"The change is now!" The slogan is that of Francois Hollande, business leaders have clearly in mind. For good reason: the change, it is not their cup of tea. Standards changed according to the news, a tax system that grows with the economy, laws that impose new overnight … "If Francois Hollande is elected, tell us once and for all that it will do to businesses but especially then he takes it for five years, 'says almost begging a boss in the industrial sector. "From small to large group of local CAC 40, the stability is claimed hue and cry for years," says an official of Bercy.
Take five years the same policy is still not easy. Nicolas Sarkozy has learned to its cost, which had to come back, as and as Europe plunged into crisis, and unemployment and deteriorating public finances, on key measures of the beginning of his mandate: tax shield, tax credit on real estate loan interest, windfall tax on bank bonuses …
Windfall
Meanwhile the second round of presidential elections, so businesses take their troubles patiently. Is wait-business show – "they have especially put aside their investments," the economists note. Delay the initiation of social plans, according to unions. Wonder about their future boss, their compensation strategy or dividends, when they state as shareholder. And express their concerns about topics that they feel the winds, without really feeling the direction cheap business cards. The research tax credit (CIR) is one of them.
If Francois Hollande said he does not challenge this device "because it is necessary to support research" in France, the employers have understood that his team was working on a shift. "There is a windfall for big business, where we will end so that the CIR has more to SMEs", explained last week Alain Rousset, in charge of the "pact productive" in the PS candidate's campaign, speaking to redirect up … one billion euros. Enough to significantly modify the decisions of entrepreneurs!
Large and small companies also expect to know how they will be affected by "modulation" of the scheduled corporate tax that must be done "for the benefit of SMEs and companies that reinvest their profits."
Banks, they, stomp whether the Socialist candidate will carry out its threat to introduce what he calls his bill consolidation of banking which provides for "the separation of deposit and speculative activities." They should be fixed quickly, the project is provided, if any, for next summer.
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In 2012, the autonomous communities must get their deficits below 1.5% of GDP. Regularly pinned by the rating agencies and international observers, the regions represent about 35% of public expenditure in Spain. In 2011, it is these governments that have caused much of the slippage in the government deficit of 6% of GDP in Brussels promised to 8.51% finally recognized. The Conservative government of Mariano Rajoy for stepping up the pressure as they bend to the rule of austerity.
First step, last Saturday: Rajoy has met 11 of the 17 regional presidents, those belonging to his training, the Popular Party (PP). Verdict: "I have seen an optimal response on the part of all the administrations involved, said the chief executive. Resigned, if you want, but in any case committed to implementing their new obligations. "In short, regions need to update their budgets to take account of national accounts. For transfers from central government will be limited. The second stage took place on Wednesday, with the call of the Minister of Health, Ana Mato, regional leaders. Health is, with education, the main item of expenditure of the autonomous communities. But Madrid has decided to trim 7 billion on the health budget.
Retirees will pay more for their drugs
For weeks, regional presidents have launched trial balloons and explored new avenues for spending less: institution of user fees on consultations or on drugs, reducing the range of treatments offered for free or recentralization of health administration.
Today, Mato wants to push self-governments in the same direction. First announcement: retirees must pay for their drugs. So far, they were exempt, and now they shall pay 10% of the price indicated on the label, to a maximum of 18 euros per month. As for the assets, also will pay more business cards design. The bill would vary between 50 and 60% of the total price, depending on the tax form to every Spaniard. For now, all assets pay the same rate, 40% of the actual price. This new pricing should help save 3.7 billion euros.
The central government intends to finally exercise its watchdog role accounts. Before the end of the month, the autonomous communities must show in Madrid a "plan of financial imbalances" detailing the measures to restore the accounts. On Wednesday, Secretary of State for the Regions has threatened regions lax. "The Autonomous Communities may be subject to intervention if they are unable to meet their financial obligations," said Antonio Beteta. In other words, Madrid could take control in areas too spendthrift. A revolution in one of the most decentralized countries in Europe.
Banks: a peak of bad debts
Spanish banks are muddy in the economic crisis. In February, the rate of bad loans reached 8.2%. This is a record since 1994: the beginning of 1997, impaired loans did not exceed 1% of total loans. In one month, outstanding loans to businesses or people at risk of insolvency has increased by 3.8 billion to $ 144 billion. The austerity measures introduced by the Government to reduce the country's deficit partly explain this further deterioration. She falls ill while Madrid multiplies remediation plans to try to reassure international investors about the soundness of its banking sector.
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Google remains an unconventional company in many ways. In terms of governance, however it comes to side with the practice in the media sector. The search giant announced on the Internet Thursday night creating a new class of shares which confers no right to vote. This reform will enable the two co-founders of Google, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and their partner Eric Schmidt, who surrendered the CEO Larry Page to a year ago, to lock their controls on capital and strategy Company.
The three men already control 67% of the voting today through their actions "Class B". On their own, Sergey Brin and Larry Page and hold just over 58% of the voting rights. However, the continued distribution of stock options to employees gradually erode this position of strength. To reduce this dilution, Google ranks the system in place so long at Comcast, News Corp. or even The New York Times.
The new songs called "Class C" will be listed separately. They carry no right to vote. But, if Google decides to distribute a dividend, the holders of these shares may perceive them. This probability increases as Google continues to accumulate considerable liquidity. Its cash exceeds $ 49 billion already. Besides their use in the distributions of stock options, these new shares may also be used to finance potential acquisitions.
Divide by two securities
Traditionally, this governance structure serves the interests of families who want to maintain their dominance in a listed company. The Murdoch media empire for News Corp. or Roberts for the cable operator Comcast fall into this category.
But more recently, the model was taken over by young companies whose founders intend converse control, despite a lucrative IPO. The new stars of the Web, Zynga, LinkedIn and Groupon, for example, have two types of actions, one of which is reserved for managers or shareholders historical and is accompanied by superior voting rights.
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder, also intends to continue to control the voting rights of his company once it is introduced on the stock market, probably in May.
In addition, Google has responded to public inquiries wanting to buy stocks cheaper per unit. The Class A shares are divided into two. Today, before the division, the Class A share is $ 630. After division, the same amount would buy two titles.
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"We hear a lot of glasses Eva Joly and François Hollande, yet the optical is not a matter for politicians," sighs Alain Gersel. President of the National Federation of Opticians France (fnof) has just sent an open letter to presidential candidates, how to draw attention to the conflict that opposes complementary health.
The glasses are poorly reimbursed by Social Security. Among the 15% of adults say they have sought care for financial reasons during the previous year, fourth evokes the optical (second position issue, behind the teeth). The role of complementary is therefore crucial. To reduce the amount their members out of pocket, while controlling the cost of repayments, they enter into agreements with opticians, constituting "managed care". The optician agrees to charge prices "reasonable" and comply with quality standards (glasses, antireflective treatment, preliminary estimate …). In return, the additional promises a certain volume of customers-the Mutual General Education (MGEN) guarantees member 1 to 1.5 per day per store. To achieve this, it does not require to visit the stores contracted but incites: no co-pay, third party payer reimbursement and often better.
First mutual health in France, particularly in the sights of opticians, MGEN reimburses 25% increase in its qualified opticians. Its network is "closed", that is to say limited to opticians on 12000 1900-that's what allows him to expect its partners a surplus of customers. Enough to arouse jealousy among the recalibrated? MGEN provides an optician on two postulated to integrate its network, which would mean about 4000 disappointed
. Legal offensive
The fnof aligned in any case the arguments "antiréseaux". First, the insured pushed a licensed optician might be forced to "40 or 50 km route" to find it. Proximity is especially important that opticians can renew and adapt prescriptions of ophthalmologists, a solution found in 2006 in response to the shortage of medical specialists. MGEN side, it was answered that few opticians established in villages: they are concentrated in cities, contact a professional under agreement would impose the worst to go one or two streets away. Second objection of the union of opticians: lack of customer follow-up, stores incoming and outgoing network each year. Finally, do some additional improvements that would offer rebates on a limited choice of lenses or frames, without clear to their policyholders. MGEN does not feel concerned with "170 000 references saved."
The fnof offers an alternative to further reduce their costs for: refund less often eyeglasses-many contracts support a pair a year while a renewal every three years would suffice.
Several legal offensives were also launched against the MGEN, one by the sign Afflelou, based on two grounds. The barrier to competition, on the one hand, but the mutual boasts favorable opinions of the Competition Authority and the DGCCRF (Bercy). The inability of a mutual practice different levels of reimbursement between its members, on the other. On this point, the case law is unfavorable to MGEN. Following a recommendation by the Court of Auditors to slow health spending, Parliament intended to remove this barrier to care networks in 2011. But the article of the law passed was censored for reasons of form.
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The French are discouraged before they even take steps to resolve a dispute. It is thought that nine out of ten surveyed by Ipsos for the first edition of the barometer Axa legal protection. Justice remains an unknown for most of them: 80% do not know who to turn to know their rights, and 97% believe that the justice system is difficult to understand.
Worse, seven out of ten French think they have no financial means to defend themselves. Godsend for the legal protection insurers, which offer information in their contracts, and if necessary support – within limits – of legal fees. According to the Ministry of Justice, the cost of resolving a dispute is on average 200 euros for the costs of bailiff, 500 euros for an amicable and 1500 euros to cover attorney fees for a procedure .
Family, an area seldom covered by insurance
The French think that the main sources of conflict are employment, housing and the Internet. In fact, the most common disputes relate primarily to the housing (25%), led by neighborhood problems and relations between landlord and tenant, and Internet purchases (24%). Relations with the employer is not a priority (23%).
Numerous disputes also affect the field of family (divorce, inheritance …). But legal protection insurers rarely venture in this field. Axa Protection legal disputes of this nature are supported only if the client has signed the contract the more upscale, costing between 140 and 300 euros per year, much higher than a domestic contract classic (63 euros per year).
The insurer, like others, offers customers a hotline: a lawyer tells them about their rights and answered their questions. This service receives 175,000 calls a year. The insurer sees submit 36,000 new claims per year, most amicably resolved.
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"What consumers expect from the presidential
Traders are torn between fatalism and resignation. According to the ninth wave of the observatory shops conducted by Ifop for the retirement of independent mutual Medicis, 86% of traders are worried about the French economy. 70% are for the future of their trade. These figures are up sharply over 2009 and 2008.
Many find that a very real way the economic downturn. Observe a 43% drop in attendance of their stores. An increase of 9 percentage points compared to May 2011. Two out of five professionals interviewed explained that their revenue has fallen since January. 46% expect their turnover is stable.
Traders have a positive on various measures taken by Nicolas Sarkozy since the beginning of his term in April 2007. 77% qualify as "good" tax exemption for overtime, the 67% increase in the age of retirement. 61% favor the elimination of business tax. But they are only 51% to defend the introduction of VAT at 7% in restaurants. They are hostile against the increase of 1.6 percentage points of VAT. 62% feel it is a "bad thing".
Reduction of charges
Concerned about the future of small shops they fear of losing, traders are worried about their retirement and for their welfare. Little interest in the presidential election, they condemn the indifference of political leaders towards them. 81% feel that the candidates for president do not understand their professional concerns.
Almost one in three believes that candidates are not aware of the weight they represent in the French economy: France has 750,000 merchants employing 2 million people and generating 343 billion euros in turnover. Asked about their expectations, 73% required a reduction of charges. Specifically, almost one in two merchant would be they who lower employer costs. More than one in three plead for a lower wage costs. But they are only 23% want trade to be protected and promoted by measures. A minority (8%) asked for more financial aid from the government and banks to hire or grow. Only 4% consider it a priority the defense of "Made in France" or the taxation of imports in favor of French products.
Not surprisingly, Nicolas Sarkozy remains their preferred candidate. 37% say they would vote for him in the first round of the presidential election when they were 44% in the first round in 2007. Francois Hollande is second with 19%. It is followed by Marine Le Pen (18%) and Francois Bayrou (16%).
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CEO of the Caisse des Depots since 2007, Augustin de Romanet takes stock of his term as head of the financial institution publique.Il defends a vision of long-term, theme also of his book, "Not to thirty painful" , to be published next month by Plon.
LE FIGARO. – March 2007-March 2012, your tenure as head of the Deposit has been essentially that of crisis management?
Augustine ROMANET – The first thing I did upon arriving was to establish a strategic plan, the first for twenty-five years! This plan was conceived before the outbreak of the crisis, which was a chance: we had in effect given to this house a solid foundation and then through the turbulence. If the five years of my term were five years of crisis in the Deposit, then this is the etymological sense: krino, reinte? Prevention.
How have you adapted to the CDC this time of crisis?
In 2007, it was obvious that the economy of debt had reached its limits. We have defined ourselves as a long term investor, a term that might seem strange. It was taken by the Act of August 4, 2008 and came into common parlance. The mission of the Deposit is one that expresses its social utility, the provider of capital to long term, the first in the country through its various tools. We also have modernized the governance of the institution for its action is no longer subject to suspicion.
The bailouts of Dexia, the down payment in the Post, the interventions of the Strategic Investment Fund (ISF)? CDC does she not done too much, at the expense of financial security?
No. The Deposit is not weakened. Its capital is now greater than 2 billion euros to what it was in 2006. However, they are now just below the level set by the supervisory model, which has just been arrested. This means that the CDC must make choices. Through the savings fund, it is the largest financer of social housing. It will become a major player in financing local government, with the Post Bank. It is the largest investor in the territories, the majority shareholder of ISP and 26% shareholder in the La Poste group and 27% of OSEO. It will be a key player in the Greater Paris, through Icade and Egis. She manages on behalf of the State 8 programs of large loan? It is not a vision that eluded him.
Does the ISP also been at full strength? The state or parliamentarians might have wished that more intervention. Did you have to refuse certain files?
The debates were sometimes harsh. But at no time, as chairman of the board of the ISP, I had to put the state in the minority. We always found a consensus. The interest of companies brought together the State and the CDC in this tool is an outstanding success.
Beyond the ISP, what were your relations with the state?
They are reminiscent of rugby: it's not because the contacts are honest and manly that it is not a sport of gentlemen fast cash advance. That the Deposit respects the State, it is natural, but the state also met the Deposit during these five years.
The CDC will announce she losses for 2011?
No. It will be beneficial, probably close to 200 million euros, despite the loss of Dexia. This is good news. I add that no longer exists on the balance sheet of the institution any impairment that would have been deferred.
How Dexia Will it cost in total to the CDC? Do you have any regrets about the management of this file?
The Taking-is not coming. Dexia maintains a value, and I will not speculate on his future today. Regarding the past, even if mistakes were made, I refuse to take the easy way of anachronism, to rewrite the history of Dexia before his first save of 2008. And I assume, for having sustained the strategy? CARRYING since.
You were a candidate for a second term. How did you feel the decision of Nicolas Sarkozy not to renew?
Probably because I am attached to this institution, I felt this moment with surprising emotion, as I had convinced myself that I did not own my post. The decision, I always say, is the President of the Republic. So I did not comment on it. I leave calm, and proud of the work.
CEO of the Caisse des Depots is a political post?
Yes, of course! In the best sense. The policy, it is the duty of the synthesis of opposing views in search of general interest. It is also the action. At the Deposit, which combine the financial strength, the diversity of stakeholders and quality of staff, the task is exhilarating.
Are you running for the leadership of CNP Assurances?
I have personally expressed to each member of the Appointments Committee.
As a director of Veolia Environnement, were you in favor of the appointment of Jean-Louis Borloo at the head of this business? Have you supported the approach of Proglio who also chairs the Nominating Committee of NPC?
I resigned from the Board of Veolia on February 29. The suspicion that some sort of Faustian pact with Proglio is unfounded and insulting to him and for me.
What recommendation would you give to your successor?
Research of general interest means being responsive to all stakeholders of the company, the actors of the social economy to the leaders of the CAC 40, the elected leaders of rural communities to SWFs the planet, it should be remembered that they manage resources to invest in our country.
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Despite the announcement by Sony 1.2 million PS Vita installed in the U.S. and Europe after the first week of sale, the new portable video game console of the Tokyo group experiencing disappointing start. Reportedly, she has sold half as well on the Old Continent as the PSP, when it was released in September 2005. Developed under the direction of Kaz Hirai, who will be April 1, the head of the Japanese group, the PS Vita was last at least 250,000 units a week, in combination, in major European countries. Over the same period, the PSP had reached 600,000 copies. The rise of smartphones and internet tablets reduces the attractiveness of the PS Vita.
In France, with 42,000 units sold in the first week, the new handheld is twice worse than the PSP. Retailers have been less well stocked than in 2005 and no stock outs are noted. In Britain, the situation is more serious: the PS Vita crawls around 50,000 copies sold against 189,000 for the PSP. In Australia, major retailers refuse to offer it.
To erase this bad start, Sony should follow the lead of Nintendo in 2011, which was not as successful as hoped with its portable console 3DS, launched at a price too high. A price reduction of the PS Vita, sold at 250 euros for the Wi-Fi version and 300 euros for 3G, is expected by experts. But the Japanese can not reduce its prices too quickly. He urged distribution agreements in Europe with Vodafone and in France with SFR for the PS Vita in the 3G version. Finally, a rapid drop in prices could be interpreted as the first failure of Kaz Hirai, the next CEO of Sony.
"Read this article in English
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